Yountville’s abundance of wine is put to good use at its frequent town festivals and holiday celebrations. If you’re visiting during a national holiday, you’re in luck: Yountville pulls out all the stops. The afternoon of the 4th of July, the Vintage 1870 resort hosts a grand town-wide barbecue with live music and plenty of delicious fare. Christmas in Yountville literally starts the day after Thanksgiving, when the lights go up all over town in a ceremony involving both Santa Claus and free wine samples. The merriment continues during the entire month before Christmas.

Yountville also puts on a few local festivals that proudly display town history and traditions. October is the “Yountville Days” Parade, which actually makes its way lengthwise across the entire town. Luckily, this is only a mile, so there is plenty of time for the picnicking and fun that follow the parade. Throughout the year, Napa’s wineries and restaurants hold tastings for the community and visitors: there’s one in November and another in February. Perhaps the most anticipated date for foodies comes at the end of March, when “A Taste of Yountville” takes place. On this day, most of the town’s gourmet restaurants break out their newest and tastiest recipes and hope for public approval.